Casing perforator



Patented Sept. ll, 192,8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I MILLARD SUMTER BLACK, OF HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA.

CASING PERFORATOB.

'Application led January This invention relates to acasing perforator and has particular reference to that type of perforator intended to operate on pipe or casing in a well, or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a perforator of the character referred to in which there are two parts operating on the casing at substantially the same point.

Another object of my invention is to provide a perforator of the character referred to in which the cutting means is particularly simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

It is a further object of my' invention to provide a simple, effective perforator which will efectively perforate two casings of different sizes, one arranged within the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a perforator including two cutting parts mounted independently and arranged to cooperate so that one operates to feed the other into operation.

The various objects and features of this invention will be apparent to those familiar with the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a typical form of the invention throughout .which description reference is-had to the accompanying drawings in which I Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the perforator embodying th present invention.

Fig. 2 is a ietailed sectional view ofthe main portion of the perforator showing it arranged within the innermost of two casings, one arranged within the other, and in a partially actuated position. t

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts completely actuated.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3.

The perforator provided by this invention is useful generally for perforating casing or pipe in a well, or the like. Because of the ability of the perforator to cut or punch outwardly a comparatively great distance, it is particularly useful in situations where it'is desired to perforate two strings of casing or pipe of different size, one arranged within the other or where the pipe or casing is surrounded by a body of cement, or the like, and it is desired to perforate not only the casing, but also the body of cement. I will throughout this disclosure refer to the device as applied to or asoperating on two casings A and B of different sizes, one arranged within the other, the casing A being the innermost casing, the casing B being the outermost casing. this particular situation is merely one in which the perforator may be advantageously used, and that the broader-.aspects of the invention are therefore not to be considered limited by such specific disclosure.

The perforator provided by this invention comprises, generally, a body 10, two cutters 11 and 12 mounted in or carried by the body and means 13 to actuate one of the cutters.

The body 10 constitutes a frame or carrier forvthe other parts of the tool and is prefer- It isto be understood, however, that.

ably substantially round in cross-sectional the necessary characteristics. The body 10 asl shown in the drawings is provided at its upper end with a tapered screw threaded pro- ]ectlon or pin 14 by which the tool may be connected with a suitable operating member or'means such, for instance, as a string of dr1ll pipe or operating line. The two punches or cutters 11 and 12 are mounted in a recess 15 provided in the body 10. The recess is disposed longitudinally of the body and extends inwardly from one side of the body to a point close to the other side thereof. In practice the recess may be milled or otherwise formed in a body 10 which is solid, or a recess may be formed by constructing the' body in sections which assemble to form the recess.

Of the ltwo cutters 11 0 and 12 the cutter 11. 1s the prlncipal or main cutter while the cuta substantial distance from the body, the two positions just mentioned being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings respectively. In accordance with the preferred form of the invention the main cutter 11 vis pivotally mounted in vthe recess at the or in the upper end thereof. In-the drawings I have illusj trated the main cutter 11 mounted at the upper end of the recess 15 on a pivot pin 18 and have shown the inner end of the cutter rounded or curved concentric with the pin 18 and seated in the rounded upper inner corner of the recess 15. .The cutter 11 is provided 4 with an enlargement 11 inthe form of a hub. The upper end of the recess is enlarged at 11h to receive .the hub so that the hub operates to receive part of the-strain coming'on the cutter. By mounting the main cutter in the upper end part of the recess the upper end wall 22 of the recess 15 operates to form a stop for the cutter, in its extended or comletely actuated position'` vas illustrated in ig. 3., It is to be noted from inspection of the drawings that main cutter 11 is comparatively long, being sufliciently longv lto penetrate both the casing A and the casing B when in the extended position as illustrated in Fig. 3.`

The pilot cutter 12 is mounted in the recess 15 below the main vcutter 11. The pilot cutter is preferably pivotally mounted in the bottom or inner part of the recess, for in'- stance, b means of a pivot pin 30 andis preferably s aped and proportioned so. that it will engage and operate on only the inner casing The pilot cutter is operable between and in position such as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 where it is completely within the confines of the body 10 and an actuated position where it has moved to orpast a position in which it has operated on the inner casing A. The pilot cutter. is mounted and proportioned so that it engages the inner/casing A at an angle to readily opepate on it when actuated as hereinafter described. When I refer to the `pilot cutter as operating on the casing A, I do not mean that the pilot cutter shall necessarily penetrate or perforate the casing A, for in accordance with the broader aspects of my invention the pilot cutter may ,only dent or grip the casing A in a manner suiicient to accomplish the operation hereinafter described. In accordance with my present invention the lpilot cutter 12 is related to or spaced belowl the main cutter 11 so that the pilot cutter v upon or after operating'on thel casing A engages and operates the main cutter to Astart the main cutter moving outwardly and so that the main cutter upon moving outwardly engages the casing A at substantially the same point, if not at exactly the same point, operated on byE the pilot cutter. In other words, the pilot cutter is related to the main cutter so that it operates on the casing A and starts the main cutter in operation on the casing A so that the mairrcutter is started in operation in a manner to continue so that it perforates the casing A tand also the casing B. As shown in the' drawingsthe pivotal axis of the pilot cutter is spaced below the pivotal and the lengths of the cutters may be related Lacasse so that, the points or cuttingparts ofthe cutters are together or adjacent at a c 1point out- .side the body during operation o the'tool.

In a case where the pilot cutter is made to fracture or dent the casingv A the main cutter operates to follow up and increase the opera- 'tion on ,the 'casing A to the extent of cutting a substantial hole, in the casing A.- In. the l preferred form of the invention the lower ortion of the recess carrying the pilot cutter 1s wider than the upper part, so that the body has shoulders 35 which operate to limit upward movement ofthe pilot cutter so that the pilot cutter is always'in position ready to\return toits in dotted linesA in Fig. 1.

position as illustrated in In accordance with the broaxle'er aspects of myinvention any suitable means may be provided for starting operation of they pilot cutter to cause it to operate on the casing A in the manner just described. In the 'form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the operating means comprises a wedge 36 slidably mounted in the recess l5. below 4the pilot cutter, a tail piece, or other suitable device, arranged below the lower end of the body 10 to grip` or form anchorage in the casing A, and a rod 41 connecting the tail piece 40 and Wedge 36. lWhen the device is unactuated the wedge is in engagement with the lower end wall 42 of the recess 15 and the pilot cutter is supported or stopped in its'in osition by the wedge as clearly illustrated y dotted. lines in Fig. 2. The -wedge is designed and proportioned -so that when it is moved upwardly in therecess 15 it operates to throw the pilot cutter outwardly until it has engaged and started operation of the casing A. The parts-may be proportioned so lthat the V'wedge is stopped in its upward'movemem as soon as the pilot cutter has started operation of the casing A as it is unnecessary to completel actuate the pilot cutter by means of the we ge. The upward movement of theA wedge may be' stopped byproportioning the rod 41 so that the upper end of the tail piece 40 engages the lower end -of the body 10 when the wedge has been actuated as far as is desired. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that the tail piece 40 may be of any design or construction, such element being no part of the present invention except as itenters into the generalcombination of elements. l

From the foregoing description it is believed that the operation ofthe device will be clearly and fully understood. The usual method of operation is as follows. The devicev is lowered into the inner casing A at the lower Aend of a drill pipe or operating line to the desired point in the casing. The tail piece is tripped or actuated 'tolgrip or resist movement in the casing A. With the -parts in position where the cutters 11 and l2 are in their positionsthe body 10 is mov'edjdownwardly. This causes thel wedge to move the pilot cutter 12 out into position where it operates on the casing A as hereinabove described. During operation of the pilot cutter on the casing A or immediately thereafter, the pilot cutter engages the outer end portion of the mam cutter causing the main cutter to start movement outwardly so that it engages the casing A, at, or very close to the point operated on by the pilot cutter. The casing having been operated on and the main cutter belng fed by the pilot cutter the main cutter penetrates the casin A to perforate it, if the pilot cutter has not a read done so, or to enlarge or continue the per oration already made by the pilot cutter. ment of the body 10 will cause the main cutter to continue in its outward movement so that it engages and perforates .the outer casing B and finally is stopped in 1tscompletely eX- tended position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details hereinabove set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the sco e of the following claims.

laving described my invention, I claim l. A device of the character described 1ncluding a body, two individually mounted cutters carried by the body, and means whereby one cutter is operated by the other.

2. A device of the character described including, in combination, a body, two cutters carried by the body having pivotal axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters with one cutter adapted to engage and actuate the other, and cutter actuating means. l

3. A device of the character described 1ncluding, in combination, a body, two cutters of different lengths carried by the body and having pivotal aXes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters one cutter operating the other, and cutter actuating means.

4. A device of the character described including, in combination, a body, two cutters of different lengths carried by the body and having pivotal axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters, the cutters having cooperating parts whereby the shorter cutter operates the longer cutter, and cutter actuating means.

5. A device of the character described including, in combination, an elongate body, two cutters pivotally carried by the body with their pivotal axes spaced apart longitudinally of the body a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters whereby one cutter cooperatively engages the other, and'cutter actuating means.

l6. A device of the character described including, in combination, an elongate body, two cutters of different lengths pivotally car- Continued downward move-V ried by the body, the pivotal axes of the cutters being spaced apart longitudinally of the body a distance lem than the combined lengths of the cutters whereby one cutter cooperatively engages the other, and cutter actuating means. l

7. `A tool to be operated in a casing including, in combination, a body to extend into the casing, two cutters carried by the body on pivotal axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters and related so that the cutters operate to engage the casing at the same point, and cutter actuating means.

8. A tool to be operated in a casing in-' cluding, in combination, a body, two cutters of different lengths carried by the body on pivotal axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters so that the shorter cutter operates the longer cutter, the cutters having active parts that are adjacent outside the body during the operation of the tool to penetrate a single part of the casing, and cutter actuating means.

9. A tool to be operated in a casing including, in combination, a body, two cutters of different lengths carried by the body on pivotal axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters, and means for actuating the short cutter so that it operates on the casing, the cutters being related so that the long cutter is fed into engagement with the casing by the short cutter.

10: A tool to be operated in a casing includmg, in combination, a body, two cutters 0f different lengths carried by the body and having individual pivotal mountings, the axes of which are spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters, the short cutter being adapted to operate on the casing when actuated and the cutters being related so that the long cutter is moved into engagement with the casing by the short cutter to contmue operation on the casing startedby the short cutter, and cutter actuating means.

11. A tool to be operated in a casing including, in combination, a body, two cutters of diferent lengths carried by the body and having pivotal mountings spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters so that the shorter cutter operates on the casing when actuated and engages the outer portion of the long cutter to feed it into operative engagement with the casing, and means for. actuating the short cutter.

'12, A .tool to be operated in a casing including, 1n combination, a body, two cutters normally Within the body, the cutters being of different lengths and being pivotally mounted on axes spaced apart a distance less than the combined lengths of the cutters, the cutters being related so that the short cutter operates on the casing when actuated and feeds the long cutter into engagement with the casing, the long cutter being operable to a position where it projects a substantial distance from the body, and means for stopping the long cutter in said actuated position.

13. A device of the character described in- 5 cluding, in combination, a body, two cutters of'di'erent lengths and having pivotal axes spaced apart a dlstance less than the combined lengths of the cutters so that one cutter operates the other, means for stopping operation of the long cutter in position Where it projects a substantial distance from the body, and cutter actuatlng means.

In witness that I claim the foregoing-I have i hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of December, 1924. s A

M. SUMTER BLACK- 

